Oxfam, the Red Cross, UNICEF — these organizations are household names around the world. For incoming CEO of BRAC USA, Julia Roberts, adding BRAC to that list — and increasing its renown as the “world’s largest NGO” — is one of her top priorities.
Headquartered in Bangladesh, BRAC was founded in 1972 by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, and it focuses on alleviating poverty. Over the last 50 years it has reached more than 100 million people. BRAC USA contributes to BRAC International by raising awareness and mobilizing resources to support its programs.
The reason the NGO as a whole hasn’t become well-known among the general public, according to Roberts, is that it has been “out getting the work done.” But promoting its reputation, she believes, is important as the organization works to foster new partnerships amid rising global poverty and polycrisis.